Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Oct. 17, I899.

M 145 roe.

2 Sheets-Sheet l,

s. .1. TAYLOR. AGETYLEYNE ans GENERATOR.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1897.)

(No Model.)

W/ TNESSES.

THE mums PEYERS c0. mom-urns" WASMNOTOM u. c,

2 Sheets$heet 2.

Patented Oct. l7, I899.

S. J. TAYLOR.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATGR.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1897.)

(No Model.)

m, 5 s M 0 W l/vi s/vro/i \Sbmual J: Tag 0"" lad/c H 01 ail; 91.5

ruz' nonms PETERS co, PNBTULIYNQ, WASHINGTON, w. c.

' Prion..-

SAMUEL J. TAYLOR, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,029, dated October 17, 1899. Application filedltlamh 1,1897. Serial No. 626,635. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. TAYLOR, of the city of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to means for generating acetylene gas from calcium carbid and the object of the invention is to provide a generator of a very neat and simple construction, which will have few valves which need to be operated to insure the proper working of the machine, which willbe provided with such safety devices as will make the same perfectly safe, which may be easily charged or emptied; and, further and particularly, the object of the invention is to provide a generator wherein but little heat is created through the combination of the water and carbid.

With these ends in view my invention consists generally in a certain process of generating acetylene gas from calcium carbid,

and also in an acetylene-gas generator comprising a water-tank and preferably having a movable gas-holder at the top, compartments arranged beneath the same for calcium carbid, means for closing said compartments, water-supply pipes leading from said watertank to said compartments, an automatic valve controlled by the action of the gasholder and arranged in said water pipe or pipes, an interior condenserchamber provided in said water-tank and connected with said compartments by valved pipes, and a gas-outlet from the gas-holder; and, further, the invention consists in particular constructions and in combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, to show the interior construction of the watertank and the positions of the valves and pipes connected therewith. Fig. 2 is avertical section on the line 00 0c of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a vertical section on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is an end elevation of the generator. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of one of the carbid-holders, showing the water-hopper in the top and at the side thereof. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the closing caps or plugs by which the opening in the carbid-compartment is closed. Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing the gas pipe and valve leading from thecarbid-compartment to the condenser and provided with the safety relief-opening. Fig. 8 isa plan view of a carbid-holder. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail showing the water-valve and the valve-lever.

As shown in the drawings, 2 represents a cylinder, the upper part 3 of which is constituted a water-tank by theraised floor a, dividing the upper part from the open lower portion which contains the valve mechanisms,

due. The water-tank contains a closed condenser chamber 5, preferably concentric therein and of less height than the tank, so that it is always covered with water. There are no water-openings into this condenser or cooling chamber.

6 represents a movable gas-holder adapted to rise and fall in the water-tank. The tank may be filled with water in any manner. To prevent the lifting of the gas'holder entirely from the water-tank, I preferably provide one or more holes 8 in the lower part thereof, through which the gas will blow after the holder is raised so far as to expose the holes above the surface of the water. The watertank and the other parts are preferably annular, and in the lower sides thereof openings are cut to admit the oblong cans or parts 9, which project considerably beneath the bottom of the water-tank, while their outer parts project beyond the walls of the tank and are provided with the collars or extensions 10 and 11, between which is a waterleg 13 to form a water seal for the cap or plug 14:, with which the outer portion of the carbidcompartment or can is filled to prevent its occupation by gas. Theplug or cap is clearly shown to be provided with a closed can 15, which fills the outer portion of the compartment 9, leaving only the inner and lower part thereof to receive the carbid-holder 16. This carbid=holder is preferably pro- The hooks 17 are Ion preferably provided to lock the cap or plug 14 in place. The carbid-holders are simple open-topped cans having the spouts or hoppers 19 in their upper parts and against one side thereof. In each can or holder the hopper or spout has a small opening 20 at the bottom, which will allow the water placed in the spout or hopper to descend along the side or wall of the can, and thus avoid any particular contact with the carbid in the can until the Water reaches the bottom and rises from thence to the car-bid. The water is fed to the carbid through .the short pipes 21, which lead from each carbid-compartment 9 upward into the bottom of the water-tank. Each pipe 21 is provided with a valve 22, which valve is actuated by a valve-lever 23, provided at one end with a ball or weight 24, which will automatically close the-valve after the lever is freed. These valves are preferably independently operated, and the means for operating each is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 3.

25 represents a stand-pipe arranged within the water-tank to receive the upright sliding rod 26, the lower end of which is coupled to the lever 23. Another pipe 27 depends from the top of the gas holder and slides upon the pipe 25, the two serving as a guide for the gas-holder, and in the top of the pipe 27 is a removable plug 28, having a small air-hole 28. The rod is of such a length that when the gas-h0lder sinks to a point indicating that there is but little gas in the same the rod 26 will engage with the plug 28 and the rod will be depressed as the gas-holderfalls, with the result that the lever 23 will be operated to open the water-valve and allow water to flow from the tank into the carbid-holder to generate gas with the carbid therein. Each watervalve is thus provided with means for automatically opening and closing it, and in addition to the opening of the valve by the downward movement of the gas-holder its complete fall or depression will operate to swing thelever so far as to close the valve; otherwise there would be danger of filling the carbid-compartment 9 by allowing water to run after the gas was exhausted from the carbid therein. The regulators for the watervalves are both shown in Fig. 1; but I prefer to arrange them on opposite sides of the gasholder to balance the latter and to better serve as guides for the gas-holder. It is believed that the formation of the top of the gas-holder as shown-that is, in conicalform-assists in holding the gas-holder upright and in a great measure dispenses with the necessity for guides therefor. The gas is taken from the compartments 9 through pipes 29, leading from the tops of the compartments to and through the bottom of the condenser 5. The pipes are preferably flush wit-h the bottom of the condenser, so that all of the liquid of condensation may flow from the condenser back into the carbid-can. Each pipe 29 is provided with a valve 30, which valve is provided with a long stem reaching through the wall of the cylinder 2 and provided with .a handle 31. These are the only valves about the generator which need be operated. By means ofa threeway valve when the handles of the valves are turned to close the gas-exitfrom either cornpartment 9 to the condenser a passage 7 is opened from the carbid-compartment 9 to a point or place independent of the gas-generator. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 7, with the exception that the pipe leading from the three-way or opening 34: in the valve is not shown. This pi peis preferably conducted to a point out of doors, so that all danger of an explosion caused by a shutting off of the gas-exit and a continued supply of water -to the carbid in the compartment 9 is prevented.

The walls of the condenser5 are kept cool bythe surrounding water, and the moisture and other-products which are carried off from the cat-bid are condensed in this chamber 5 and, as described, flow back to the carbid-can through the gas-pipes 29. The gas is exhausted from the condenser through the pipe 86, which extends nearly to the bottom of the condenser and through the top thereof. At its upper end the pipe 36 is provided with a flexible pipe or tube 37, turned down through a floating block 38, which keeps the nozzle of the pipe beneath the surface of the water, so that the gas is washed in the Water before passing into the upper part of the gas-holder. From the gas-holder the gas is exhausted through the usual downwardly-leading pipe 39, from whence a pipe or pipes 40 lead to the point or points of consumption. Drip or drain cocks are provided in convenient places upon the generator.

The use and operation of my gas-generator are as follows: The water-tank is filled in any suitable manner. Fpr the purpose a spout ll is provided at the top of the water-tank. The caps or plugs are removed from the carbidcompartments 9 and the water seals or legs 13 are filled. At the same time the carbid-cans 16 are taken out of the compartments and one or both filled with carbid. They are then replaced so that their spouts or hoppers 19 will be beneath the ends of the water-pipes 21. The plugs let are replaced with their flanges in the water seals and then the plug 28 in the top of the gas-holder is removed to permit the opening of the water-valves 22. The rods 27 will lift, and are held down by hand until water is let into the carbid-cans to generate gas. As the valves 30 are opened the gas will pass into the condenser and after being freed from moisture into the gas-holder to holdand finally raise the same to a point which will permit the closing of the water-valves; If it is desired to use only one side of the generator, the plug 28 in the top of the valve-rod pipe is removed, so that the gas-holder may rise and fall without affecting the valve upon that side of the device. The particular feature of my invention is the arrangement by which the water is fed down the side of the IIO can and to the bottom thereof. Theresult of this arrangement is that the water drips into the bottom of the can and attacks the carbid therein. The gas is formed and passes off-up through the dry carbid above, which is kept dry rather than moist by this action. Then as the carbid is exhausted and the hydrate of lime left the latter. will pack into the bottom of the can in a dry state and the water will u aturally flow across the top of the refuse material and attack the fresh carbid. The actual result is that when the carbid is exhausted or before it is exhausted all of the carbid left in the can will be found in a dry state and the hydrate of lime in the condition of dry ashes and may be very readilyem ptied or shaken from the can. This is a particular advantage, as the can may be removed from the generator at any time without the an myance of the continued production of gas from damp or wet or partially-exhausted carbid.

The term chamber as used herein isunderstood to mean a large space as contrasted with a pipe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combin ation, with a water-tan k and a gas-holder, of a carbid-compartment independent of the water-tank and connected therewith byavalved water-pipe, an interior condenser chamber or compartment in said water-tank normally submerged therein, a valved gas pipe connecting the same with the carbid-compartment, a gas-pipe leading from the lower part of said condenser-chamber upward to thegas-holder, and means extending within the tank and operated by the holder for operating the watervalve, substantially as described.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with the water-tank and the gasholder to rise and fall therein, of the carbidcompartment, the waterpipe thereof, the valve in said pipe, the weighted valve-lever, the telescoping pipes within said tank, and a gas-holder carried thereby, respectively, the valve-lever rod extending upward through said pipes, and a removable plug in the upper end of the plug or stop carried by the gasholder to engage said valve-lever rod, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with the water-tank and the gasholder to rise and fall therein, of the carbidcompartment, the waterpipe thereof, the valve in said pipe, the weighted valve-lever, the telescoping pipes Within said tank and a gas-holder carried thereby, respectively, the valve-lever rod extending upward through said pipes, and a removable plug in the upper end of the pipe carried by the gas-holder to engage said valve-lever rod, said plug or stop having an air-hole whereby the formation of a vacuum in the telescoping pipes is prevented, substantially as described.

t. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with the case or chamber, of a car bid-can therein, and open at the top only, a gas-exit from said case or cham berand means upon the side of the can to deliver the water into the can near the side thereof, and said can provided with means to direct the water downwardly upon the side thereof, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in an acetylene-gas generator, of a water-tank, with a movable gas-holder therein, a carbid-receptacle, a water pipe or duct leading thereto, a gas-duct leading from said receptacle to said holder, a valve in said water-pipe, an operating-rod therefor extending upward into said water tank and movable holder, and operated by the movement of said holder, and telescoping pipes arranged respectively upon said tank and said holder, Within which said rod is guided, and which forms a water seal about said rod within the tank, substantially as described.

6. In a gas-generator, the combination,with

a water-tank and gas-holder, of the carbidcompartment, a water-pipe through which the same is supplied, said compartment having a side extension provided with a water seal, a cap therefor, and a gas-exit from said compartment to said gas-holder, substantially as described.

7.. In a gas-generator, the combination with the water-tank and gas-holder of the carbidcom partmen't,asniallercarbidcan to be placed in said compartment, a Water-pipe through which water is supplied thereto, the portion of said compartment not occupied by said can being provided with a cap and a plug carried by said cap to occupy the space in the compartment that would otherwise be filled with gas, substantially as described.

8. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with the water-tank 2, of a carbid= compartment 9, a condenser-chamber 5 arranged within said water-tank, having its bottom formed by the bottom of said tank, and being of less height than said water-tank, to be submerged in the water in said tank, a

gas-pipe 36 leading from the lower part of said condenser-chamber upward through the same to a point above the surface of the water in said tank, a gas-holder 6 to rise and fall in said tank, said carbid-com partment being beneath said condenser-chamber 5 whereby the liquid of condensation from said chamber passes back into said compartment, and means for supplying and controlling the supply of water from said tank to said compartment, as and for the purpose specified.

9. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with the water-tank, and the gasholder to rise and fall therein, of a compartment to hold the gas-producing material, a water-pipe by which water is supplied to said compartment, a valve in said'water-pipe, a valve-lever on said valve, a vertical valverod operating said lever, guide-pipes 26 27amranged within said tank and said gas-holder,

said valve-rod'being held therein and adapted ter flow to always attack the lowest unconto be operated by said gas-holder, whereby snmed parts or portions of calcium carbid, the movement of the gas-holder is employed and cutting oif the supply of water when all to control the flow of water to said compartthe carbid is consumed to prevent flooding ment, substantially as described. of the residue, substantially as described.

10. The process of generating acetylene gas In testimony whereof I have hereunto set which consists in confining calcium carbid, my hand this 23d day of February, A. D.

feeding Water by gravity to the lowest part 1897. thereof, confining the hydrate of lime beneath SAMUEL J. TAYLOR. the unconsumed parts of calcium carbid, and \Vitnesses:

O. G. HAWLEY, W. E. FALLIS.

thus continually forming a substantial floor upon which the succeeding quantities of wal 

